Jack W. Mullins, left, prepares to sign his sentencing documents in Lewis County Superior Court.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – His attorney says it was credibility issues with the confidential informant, the deputy prosecutor said he didn’t have enough confidence the informant would cooperate during a trial.
Fifty-seven-year-old Jack Wayne Mullins was sent to jail today for two and half months after making a plea deal, pleading guilty to possession of methamphetamine.
Mullins was one of 10 people swept up in what was dubbed Operation Big Bottom Bust, a June operation in which some two dozen law enforcement officers from multiple agencies descended upon Randle in the Big Bottom Valley in east Lewis County and arrested 10 individuals following a months-long drug investigation.
One person was picked up only on a warrant, but the rest were jailed for allegedly dealing meth. Two were never charged.
Mullins, the oldest of the arrestees, is the sixth of the bunch to have entered into a plea agreement.
The remaining person, Marty Joe Mullins, 48, is scheduled for trial later this year.
The cases were distributed among four deputy prosecutors. Lewis County Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecutor Brad Meagher is handling Marty Mullins’ case.
Meagher declined to say if any kind of plea arrangement was in the works.
“The trial’s a long ways down the road,” Meagher said today.
The investigation and raids were coordinated by the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office Regional Task Force. One of its members, sheriff’s detective Jeffrey S. Humphrey is on paid administrative leave after getting arrested a week and a half ago for driving under the influence in Chehalis.
Whether Humphrey remains a deputy will have no bearing if he can still be a witness, Meagher said. But whether his pending gross misdemeanor case could affect the one drug dealing case left, Meagher said simply, maybe.
Today, in Lewis County Superior Court, Jack Mullins listened as his lawyer and a deputy prosecutor told the judge they agreed he should spend 75 days in jail. He faced a sentencing range for drug possession of zero to six months as he has no criminal history.
Defense attorney Jacob Clark told the judge the $3,000 in fines and fees would be a hardship as his client earns money picking mushroom, with the season starting this time of year.
Jack Mullins asked Judge Nelson Hunt to give him more time before going to jail.
“I work the last four months of the year to pay my bills,” Jack Mullins said. “I’m going to lose my house if I don’t get my taxes paid.”
Hunt imposed the financial obligations, and said he could begin paying $25 each month starting 60 days after his release. Jack Mullins was handcuffed and taken away.
Among the other defendants, Byron O. Daily, 42, is in jail for 75 days having pleaded guilty to possession of meth. Twenty-five-year-old Leah D. Williams who lived with Daily and has children got herself into family drug court and was given 30 days of house arrest for possession, according to Lewis County Deputy Prosecutor Shane O’Rourke.
Still to be sentenced is 52-year-old Diane L. Allison who lives with Jack Mullins; Keith A. Sanders, 42, and Robert D. LaChance Sr., 51. All live in Randle.
LaChance was arrested again earlier this month by the sheriff’s office for possession and delivery of methamphetamine.
Deputy Prosecutor Eric Eiseneberg said today LaChance was looking at at least five years for one count of delivery of methamphetamine, and he will likely recommend the high end of the standard sentencing range because of the new case.
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For background, read “Seven charged for dealing meth in Randle” from Tuesday June 11, 2013, here
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
Wow I don’t know what’s scarier…Dalton’s confusing post or other reader’s ability to translate ha ha.
Thanks for the translation!
I GET THE DISTINCT IMPRESSION THAT DALTON YELLS WHEN HE TALKS
Dalton is saying that they let everyone out to be snitches. Therefore every druggy in the county is going to end up being a snitch.
@ bahlsdeep: I think I can translate what Dalton commented. Dalton believes that if the people that were arrested for Meth in this incident only get jailed for a month or two, then they’ve signed a contract to become a Confidential Informant (aka “snitches”) with strict orders form Law Enforcement “to give them names of people in the drug world”. YEP THE WHOLECO IS INFORMATS NOW…SNITCHES,,,, Translates to: Yes, the whole county is Confidential Informants now, Snitches!
@ Dalton: Most likely, because they’re actually doing jail time & they’re signing a plea deal. None of them have turned to “snitching”. The usual deal for a Confidential informant is NO jail time & the charges are dropped if you complete your CI contract. It appears to me that their “snitch” that assisted with this bust, probably broke his contract by using, dealing or otherwise and some of them could testify to that if they took it to trial. And the cases would All be dropped. Credibility is important with a confidential informant if the accused takes it to trial. The jury has to believe the Snitch over the accused user/dealer/manufacturer.
Dalton,
I feel dumber reading your post. Can I get a translation from someone please?
WELL IF THEY LET THEM OUT IN A MONTH OR TWO, THERE THEN INFORMATS WITH SOME STRICT “YOU BETTER GIVE US NAMES” YEP THE WHOLECO IS INFORMATS NOW…SNITCHES,,,,